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Martin is one of the most complete running backs in the NFL draft.

Running back might not be the biggest need for the Green Bay Packers in the 2012 NFL draft, but it is certainly an intriguing position for the team.  While their offense doesn’t necessary suffer with poor play at running back, it would certainly make them all the more dangerous if they had a real weapon in the backfield.

Two prospects that carry first-round grades, but could slip into the second or third rounds are Doug Martin of Boise State and Chris Polk of Washington.  Each player brings a unique skill set to the field.

Martin is one of the most complete backs in the draft, and while he isn’t necessarily “elite” in any aspect of his game, he is a solid all-around contributor.  Not only would he be an improvement as a pure runner, but Martin can also block and act as a receiver out of the backfield.

Many consider Martin to be the second or third best running back available in this year’s draft, and if the Packers could land him, it would be a huge boost to their team.

As far as Polk goes, he may not be as complete of a player as Martin, but he may be a better pure running back.  He is extremely patient and excels at running between the tackles.  Polk still has room to grow as a true receiving threat, but he could definitely grow into one of the better pass-catching running backs.  Read more... (380 words + 1 image, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

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By most accounts, Boise St. RB Doug Martin is a great talent. But most mock drafts have him falling out of the second round.

As the Green Bay Packers and the other 31 NFL teams rush to find a franchise quarterback and stockpile as many wide receivers, pass-catching tight ends and cover cornerbacks as possible, running backs are being left in the dust.

Passing rules today’s NFL, and that doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon. This fact hurts the value of running backs, making the position expendable in many cases. The movement to downgrade the running back position reminds me a little bit of the book Moneyball’s impact on drafting high school players in Major League Baseball.

In Moneyball, author Michael Lewis highlights how Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane avoided drafting 17- and 18-year-old high school kids, and instead tried to draft players with college experience. Beane thought high school kids were overvalued and much of their perceived value couldn’t be justified because, well, they were just high school kids.

After Moneyball was published, it didn’t take long for other teams to catch on and start thinking like Beane. Suddenly, high school players that may have been drafted early five years ago were being passed over for college prospects.

So what did Beane do? He started drafting more high school kids.  Read more... (501 words + 1 image, estimated 2:00 mins reading time)

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